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Pasin C, Nuñez DG, Kusejko K, Hachfeld A, Buvelot H, Cavassini M, Damonti L, Fux C, de Tejada BM, Notter J, Trkola A, Günthard HF, Aebi-Popp K, Kouyos RD, Abela IA. Impact of hormonal therapy on HIV-1 immune markers in cis women and gender minorities. HIV Med 2024. [PMID: 38830635 DOI: 10.1111/hiv.13677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although sex hormones are recognized to induce immune variations, the effect of hormonal therapy use on immunity is only poorly understood. Here, we quantified how hormonal therapy use affects HIV-1 immune markers in cis women (CW) and trans women and non-binary people (TNBP) with HIV. METHODS We considered CD4, CD8 and lymphocyte measurements from cis men (CM), CW and TNBP in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. We modelled HIV-1 markers using linear mixed-effects models with an interaction between 'gender' (CW, TNBP) and 'hormonal therapy use' (yes/no). Models were adjusted on age, ethnicity, education level, time since start of antiretroviral therapy and use of intravenous drugs. We assessed the inflammatory effect of hormonal therapy use in 31 TNBP using serum proteomics measurements of 92 inflammation markers. RESULTS We included 54 083 measurements from 3092 CW and 83 TNBP, and 147 230 measurements from 8611 CM. Hormonal therapy use increased CD4 count and CD4:CD8 ratio in TNBP more than in CW (pinteraction = 0.02 and 0.007, respectively). TNBP with hormonal therapy use had significantly higher CD4 counts [median = 772 cells/μL, interquartile range (IQR): 520-1006] than without (617 cells/μL, 426-892). This was similar to the effect of CW versus CM on CD4 T cells. Hormonal therapy use did not affect serum protein concentrations in TNBP. CONCLUSION This study highlights the potential role of hormonal therapy use in modulating the immune system among other biological and social factors, especially in TNBP with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Pasin
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Collegium Helveticum, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David Garcia Nuñez
- Center for Gender Variance, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Kusejko
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anna Hachfeld
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Hélène Buvelot
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Cavassini
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lauro Damonti
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Division of Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Fux
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland
| | - Begoña Martinez de Tejada
- Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospitals of Geneva and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julia Notter
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Trkola
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Huldrych F Günthard
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karoline Aebi-Popp
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roger D Kouyos
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Irene A Abela
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Laganà A, Visalli G, Di Pietro A, Facciolà A. Vaccinomics and adversomics: key elements for a personalized vaccinology. Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2024; 13:105-120. [PMID: 38752004 PMCID: PMC11091437 DOI: 10.7774/cevr.2024.13.2.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are one of the most important and effective tools in the prevention of infectious diseases and research about all the aspects of vaccinology are essential to increase the number of available vaccines more and more safe and effective. Despite the unquestionable value of vaccinations, vaccine hesitancy has spread worldwide compromising the success of vaccinations. Currently, the main purpose of vaccination campaigns is the immunization of whole populations with the same vaccine formulations and schedules for all individuals. A personalized vaccinology approach could improve modern vaccinology counteracting vaccine hesitancy and giving great benefits for human health. This ambitious purpose would be possible by facing and deepening the areas of vaccinomics and adversomics, two innovative areas of study investigating the role of a series of variables able to influence the immune response to vaccinations and the development of serious side effects, respectively. We reviewed the recent scientific knowledge about these innovative sciences focusing on genetic and non-genetic basis involved in the individual response to vaccines in terms of both immune response and side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Laganà
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
- Istituto Clinico Polispecialistico C.O.T., Cure Ortopediche Traumatologiche S.P.A., Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Visalli
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Angela Di Pietro
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Alessio Facciolà
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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3
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Shen D, Chang L, Su F, Huang S, Xu H, Si Y, Wang F, Xue Y. The gut microbiome modulates the susceptibility to traumatic stress in a sex-dependent manner. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25315. [PMID: 38439584 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a psychological condition triggered by exposure to extreme or chronic stressful events, exhibits a sex bias in incidence and clinical manifestations. Emerging research implicates the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of PTSD and its roles in stress susceptibility. However, it is unclear whether differential gut microbiota contribute to PTSD susceptibility in male and female rats. Here, we utilized the single prolonged stress animal model and employed unsupervised machine learning to classify stressed animals into stress-susceptible subgroups and stress-resilient subgroups. Subsequently, using 16S V3-V4 rDNA sequencing, we investigated the differential gut microbiota alterations between susceptible and resilient individuals in male and female rats. Our findings revealed distinct changes in gut microbiota composition between the sexes at different taxonomic levels. Furthermore, the abundance of Parabacteroides was lower in rats that underwent SPS modeling compared to the control group. In addition, the abundance of Tenericutes in the stress-susceptible subgroup was higher than that in the control group and stress-resilient subgroup, suggesting that Tenericutes may be able to characterize stress susceptibility. What is particularly interesting here is that Cyanobacteria may be particularly associated with anti-anxiety effects in male rats. This study underscores sex-specific variations in gut microbiota composition in response to stress and sex differences should be taken into account when using macrobiotics for neuropsychiatric treatment, highlighting potential targets for PTSD therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Shen
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Liang Chang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Feng Su
- College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shihao Huang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hubo Xu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Si
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yanxue Xue
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
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4
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Giunta S, Xia S, Pelliccioni G, Olivieri F. Autonomic nervous system imbalance during aging contributes to impair endogenous anti-inflammaging strategies. GeroScience 2024; 46:113-127. [PMID: 37821752 PMCID: PMC10828245 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00947-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammaging refers to the age-related low grade, sterile, chronic, systemic, and long-lasting subclinical, proinflammatory status, currently recognized as the main risk factor for development and progression of the most common age-related diseases (ARDs). Extensive investigations were focused on a plethora of proinflammatory stimuli that can fuel inflammaging, underestimating and partly neglecting important endogenous anti-inflammaging mechanisms that could play a crucial role in such age-related proinflammatory state. Studies on autonomic nervous system (ANS) functions during aging highlighted an imbalance toward an overactive sympathetic nervous system (SNS) tone, promoting proinflammatory conditions, and a diminished parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity, playing anti-inflammatory effects mediated by the so called cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP). At the molecular level, CAP is characterized by signals communicated via the vagus nerve (with the possible involvement of the splenic nerves) through acetylcholine release to downregulate the inflammatory actions of macrophages, key players of inflammaging. Notably, decreased vagal function and increased burden of activated/senescent macrophages (macrophaging) probably precede the development of several age-related risk factors and diseases, while increased vagal function and reduced macrophaging could be associated with relevant reduction of risk profiles. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) is another pathway related to ANS promoting some anti-inflammatory response mainly through increased cortisol levels. In this perspective review, we highlighted that CAP and HPA, representing broadly "anti-inflammaging" mechanisms, have a reduced efficacy and lose effectiveness in aged people, a phenomenon that could contribute to fuel inflammaging. In this framework, strategies aimed to re-balance PNS/SNS activities could be explored to modulate systemic inflammaging especially at an early subclinical stage, thus increasing the chances to reach the extreme limit of human lifespan in healthy status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Giunta
- Casa Di Cura Prof. Nobili (Gruppo Garofalo (GHC)), Castiglione Dei Pepoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Shijin Xia
- Department of Geriatrics, Shanghai Institute of Geriatrics, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Fabiola Olivieri
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, DISCLIMO, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
- Clinical Laboratory and Molecular Diagnostic, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy.
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Lee HL, Squire E, Fotio Y, Mabou Tagne A, Lee J, Yoon JJ, Hong Y, Kim LH, Jung KM, Piomelli D. Frequent low-impact exposure to THC during adolescence causes persistent sexually dimorphic alterations in the response to viral infection in mice. Pharmacol Res 2024; 199:107049. [PMID: 38159785 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.107049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Adolescent exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has enduring effects on energy metabolism and immune function. Prior work showed that daily administration of a low-impact dose of THC (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) during adolescence alters transcription in adult microglia and disrupts their response to bacterial endotoxin or social stress. To explore the lasting impact of adolescent THC exposure on the brain's reaction to viral infection, we administered THC (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) in male and female mice once daily on postnatal day (PND) 30-43. When the mice reached adulthood (PND 70), we challenged them with the viral mimic, polyinosinic acid:polycytidylic acid [Poly(I:C)], and assessed sickness behavior (motor activity, body temperature) and whole brain gene transcription. Poly(I:C) caused an elevation in body temperature which was lessened by prior THC exposure in female but not male mice. Adolescent THC exposure did not affect the locomotor response to Poly(I:C) in either sex. Transcriptomic analyses showed that Poly(I:C) produced a substantial upregulation of immune-related genes in the brain, which was decreased by THC in females. Additionally, the viral mimic caused a male-selective downregulation in transcription of genes involved in neurodevelopment and synaptic transmission, which was abrogated by adolescent THC treatment. The results indicate that Poly(I:C) produces complex transcriptional alterations in the mouse brain, which are sexually dimorphic and differentially affected by early-life THC exposure. In particular, adolescent THC dampens the brain's antiviral response to Poly(I:C) in female mice and prevents the transcriptional downregulation of neuron-related genes caused by the viral mimic in male mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Lim Lee
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Erica Squire
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Yannick Fotio
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Alex Mabou Tagne
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Jungyeon Lee
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - John Jeongwoo Yoon
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Yedam Hong
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Laura Hyunseo Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Kwang-Mook Jung
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, USA.
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Perlmutter JI, Atadurdyyeva A, Schedl ME, Unckless RL. Wolbachia enhances the survival of Drosophila infected with fungal pathogens. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.30.560320. [PMID: 37873081 PMCID: PMC10592616 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.30.560320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Wolbachia bacteria of arthropods are at the forefront of basic and translational research on multipartite host-symbiont-pathogen interactions. These microbes are vertically inherited from mother to offspring via the cytoplasm. They are the most widespread endosymbionts on the planet due to their infamous ability to manipulate the reproduction of their hosts to spread themselves in a population, and to provide a variety of fitness benefits to their hosts. Importantly, some strains of Wolbachia can inhibit viral pathogenesis within and between arthropod hosts. Mosquitoes carrying the wMel Wolbachia strain of Drosophila melanogaster have a greatly reduced capacity to spread viruses like dengue and Zika to humans. Therefore, Wolbachia are the basis of several global vector control initiatives. While significant research efforts have focused on viruses, relatively little attention has been given to Wolbachia-fungal interactions despite the ubiquity of fungal entomopathogens in nature. Here, we demonstrate that Wolbachia increase the longevity of their Drosophila melanogaster hosts when challenged with a spectrum of yeast and filamentous fungal pathogens. We find that this pattern can vary based on host genotype, sex, and fungal species. Further, Wolbachia correlates with higher fertility and reduced pathogen titers during initial fungal infection, indicating a significant fitness benefit. This study demonstrates Wolbachia's role in diverse fungal pathogen interactions and determines that the phenotype is broad, but with several variables that influence both the presence and strength of the phenotype. These results enhance our knowledge of the strategies Wolbachia uses that likely contribute to such a high global symbiont prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aylar Atadurdyyeva
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Margaret E. Schedl
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Robert L. Unckless
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
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Ma X, Ding J, Ren H, Xin Q, Li Z, Han L, Liu D, Zhuo Z, Liu C, Ren Z. Distinguishable Influence of the Delivery Mode, Feeding Pattern, and Infant Sex on Dynamic Alterations in the Intestinal Microbiota in the First Year of Life. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:1799-1813. [PMID: 36864279 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02188-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
The delivery mode, the feeding pattern and infant sex significantly influence the development of the infant gut flora. However, the extent to which these factors contribute to the establishment of the gut microbiota at different stages has rarely been studied. The factors that play a dominant role in determining microbial colonization of the infant gut at specific time points are unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the different contributions of the delivery mode, the feeding pattern and infant sex to the composition of the infant gut microbiome. Here, 213 fecal samples from 55 infants at five ages (0, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postpartum) were collected, and the composition of the gut microbiota via 16S rRNA sequencing was analyzed. The results showed that the average relative abundances of four genera, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Phascolarctobacterium, were increased in vaginally delivered infants versus cesarean section-delivered infants, while those of ten genera, such as Salmonella and Enterobacter, were reduced. The relative proportions of Anaerococcus and Peptostreptococcaceae were higher in exclusive breastfeeding than in combined feeding, while those of Coriobacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae were lower. The average relative abundances of two genera, Alistipes and Anaeroglobus, were increased in male infants compared with female infants, whereas those of the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were reduced. During the first year of life, the average UniFrac distances revealed that the individual difference in the gut microbial composition in vaginally delivered infants was greater than that in cesarean section-delivered infants (P < 0.001) and that infants who received combined feeding had greater individual microbiota differences than exclusively breastfed infants (P < 0.01). The delivery mode, infant sex, and the feeding pattern were the dominant factors determining colonization of the infant gut microbiota at 0 months, from 1 to 6 months, and at 12 months postpartum, respectively. This study demonstrated for the first time that infant sex accounted for the dominant contribution to infant gut microbial development from 1 to 6 months postpartum. More broadly, this study effectively established the extent to which the delivery mode, the feeding pattern and infant sex contribute to the development of the gut microbiota at various time points during the first year of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ma
- Department of Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Juan Ding
- Department of Quality Control, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| | - Hongyan Ren
- Shanghai Mobio Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 201111, China
| | - Qi Xin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Interventional Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Liping Han
- Department of Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Dingjiandi Liu
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Zhihong Zhuo
- Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Shanghai Mobio Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai, 201111, China
| | - Zhigang Ren
- Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
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Shahraki Z, Rastkar M, Rastkar E, Mohammadifar M, Mohamadi A, Ghajarzadeh M. Impact of menopause on relapse rate and disability level in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS): a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Neurol 2023; 23:316. [PMID: 37667181 PMCID: PMC10476298 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-023-03332-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Menopause is a physiologic phase in women's lives. Findings regarding multiple sclerosis (MS) course through menopause are diverse. So, we designed this systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the impact of menopause on relapse rate, and disability status in women with MS. METHODS PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and google scholar were systematically searched by two independent researchers on January 1st, 2023. They also evaluated conference abstracts, and references of the included studies. In addition, data regarding the total number of participants, name of the first author of the publication, publication year, country of origin, disease duration, disease type, annual relapse rate, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) before and after menopause were recorded. RESULTS A literature search revealed 1024 records. Twenty-one full texts were evaluated, and finally, four studies were included for meta-analysis. Mean ARR before menopause ranged between 0.21 and 0.37, and after menopause ranged between 0.13 and 0.08. The SMD of mean ARR ranged between - 1.04, and - 0.29, while the pooled SMD was estimated as -0.52(95% CI: -0.88, -0.15) (I2 = 73.6%, P = 0.02). The mean EDSS before menopause ranged between 1.5 and 2, and after menopause ranged between 2 and 3.1. The SMD of EDSS ranged between 0.46, and 0.71. The pooled SMD of EDSS change (after menopause-before menopause) estimated as 0.56(95% CI: 0.38, 0.73)(I2 = 0, P = 0.4). CONCLUSION The result of this systematic review and meta-analysis show that menopause can be associated with relapse rate reduction, unlike increase in disease-related disability in women with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohsen Rastkar
- Student's Scientific research center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elnaz Rastkar
- Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mohammadifar
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Group (MSRG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aida Mohamadi
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Group (MSRG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Ghajarzadeh
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Group (MSRG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Pasin C, Consiglio CR, Huisman J, de Lange AMG, Peckham H, Vallejo-Yagüe E, Abela IA, Islander U, Neuner-Jehle N, Pujantell M, Roth O, Schirmer M, Tepekule B, Zeeb M, Hachfeld A, Aebi-Popp K, Kouyos RD, Bonhoeffer S. Sex and gender in infection and immunity: addressing the bottlenecks from basic science to public health and clinical applications. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221628. [PMID: 37416827 PMCID: PMC10320357 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Although sex and gender are recognized as major determinants of health and immunity, their role is rarely considered in clinical practice and public health. We identified six bottlenecks preventing the inclusion of sex and gender considerations from basic science to clinical practice, precision medicine and public health policies. (i) A terminology-related bottleneck, linked to the definitions of sex and gender themselves, and the lack of consensus on how to evaluate gender. (ii) A data-related bottleneck, due to gaps in sex-disaggregated data, data on trans/non-binary people and gender identity. (iii) A translational bottleneck, limited by animal models and the underrepresentation of gender minorities in biomedical studies. (iv) A statistical bottleneck, with inappropriate statistical analyses and results interpretation. (v) An ethical bottleneck posed by the underrepresentation of pregnant people and gender minorities in clinical studies. (vi) A structural bottleneck, as systemic bias and discriminations affect not only academic research but also decision makers. We specify guidelines for researchers, scientific journals, funding agencies and academic institutions to address these bottlenecks. Following such guidelines will support the development of more efficient and equitable care strategies for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Pasin
- Collegium Helveticum, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Camila R. Consiglio
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jana S. Huisman
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Physics of Living Systems, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ann-Marie G. de Lange
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0373 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK
| | - Hannah Peckham
- Centre for Adolescent Rheumatology Versus Arthritis at UCL, UCLH and GOSH, London WC1E 6JF, UK
| | | | - Irene A. Abela
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrika Islander
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
- SciLifeLab, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Nadia Neuner-Jehle
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Pujantell
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Virology, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Olivia Roth
- Marine Evolutionary Biology, Zoological Institute, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Melanie Schirmer
- Emmy Noether Group for Computational Microbiome Research, ZIEL – Institute for Food and Health, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Burcu Tepekule
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marius Zeeb
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anna Hachfeld
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital and University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Karoline Aebi-Popp
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital and University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lindenhofspital, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roger D. Kouyos
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Bonhoeffer
- Collegium Helveticum, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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10
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Wankhede D, Grover S, Hofman P. Determinants of humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in solid cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Vaccine 2023; 41:1791-1798. [PMID: 36792435 PMCID: PMC9922575 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.01.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Solid cancer patients following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are likely to have a lower seroconversion rate than healthy adults. Seroconversion between those with and without cancer is likely to vary moderately or to be restricted to specific subgroups. Therefore, we sought to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify risk factors for diminished humoral immune responses in solid cancer patients. METHODS MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were used to search literature through May 1, 2022. Prospective or retrospective studies comparing responders with non-responders against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) following COVID-19 vaccination were included. Pooled Odds Ratios (pORs) with 95% CIs for binary variables and differences in means (with SDs) for continuous variables were calculated to determine the pooled effect estimates of risk factors for poor antibody response. RESULTS Fifteen studies enrolling 3593 patients were included in the analysis. Seroconversion was seen in 84% of the pooled study population. Male gender, age >65 years, and recent chemotherapy were all factors in a poor immune response. Patients under follow-up, those who received immunotherapy or targeted therapy, were more likely to be seropositive. Cancer subtypes, vaccine types, and timing of antibody testing from the 2nd dose of vaccine did not correlate with seroconversion. CONCLUSION Cytotoxic therapy for solid cancer may portend poor immune response following 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccines suggesting a need for booster doses in these patients. Immunotherapy and targeted therapy are likely to be associated with seropositive status, and thus can be considered as an alternative to cytotoxic agents in cases where both therapies are equally efficacious.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durgesh Wankhede
- Department of Surgical Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
| | - Sandeep Grover
- Center for Human Genetics, Universitatsklinikum Giessen und Marburg - Standort Marburg, 35055 Marburg, Germany
| | - Paul Hofman
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Pasteur Hospital, University Côte d’Azur, 30 avenue de la voie romaine, 06002 Nice, France,Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), INSERM U1081 and UMR CNRS 7284, Team 4, Nice, France,Hospital-Integrated Biobank BB-0033-00025, Pasteur Hospital, Nice, France,University Hospital Federation OncoAge, CHU de Nice, University Côte d’Azur, Nice, France
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11
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Overstreet DS, Strath LJ, Jordan M, Jordan IA, Hobson JM, Owens MA, Williams AC, Edwards RR, Meints SM. A Brief Overview: Sex Differences in Prevalent Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4521. [PMID: 36901530 PMCID: PMC10001545 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain disorders are some of the most prevalent and disabling chronic pain conditions worldwide. These chronic conditions have a considerable impact on the quality of life of individuals, families, communities, and healthcare systems. Unfortunately, the burden of MSK pain disorders does not fall equally across the sexes. Females consistently demonstrate more prevalent and severe clinical presentations of MSK disorders, and this disparity increases in magnitude with age. The aim of the present article is to review recent studies that have examined sex differences between males and females in four of the most common MSK pain disorders: neck pain, low back pain, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demario S. Overstreet
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Woman’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Larissa J. Strath
- Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
- Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | - Indonesia A. Jordan
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Joanna M. Hobson
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Michael A. Owens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Adrian C. Williams
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Woman’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Robert R. Edwards
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Woman’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Samantha M. Meints
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Woman’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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12
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Liu C, Zhang J, Chen M, An P, Xiang J, Yu R, Zeng S, Wei S, Deng B, Liu Z, Jiang C, Shi J, Wu K, Dong W. Gender Differences in Psychological Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in China: A Multicenter Study. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12051791. [PMID: 36902578 PMCID: PMC10002859 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12051791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the gender differences in the psychological symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS A unified questionnaire was developed to collect clinical data on the psychology and quality of life of IBD patients from 42 hospitals in 22 provinces in China from September 2021 to May 2022. The general clinical characteristics, psychological symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life of IBD patients of different genders were analyzed via a descriptive statistical analysis. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted, and independent influencing factors were screened to construct a nomogram to predict the quality of life. The consistency index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC curve (AUC), and calibration curve were used to evaluate the discrimination and accuracy of the nomogram model. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to evaluate the clinical utility. RESULTS A total of 2478 IBD patients (1371 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 1107 patients with Crohn's disease (CD)) were investigated, including 1547 males (62.4%) and 931 females (37.6%). The proportion of anxiety in females was significantly higher than in males (IBD: 30.5% vs. 22.4%, p < 0.001; UC: 32.4% vs. 25.1%, p = 0.003; CD: 26.8% vs. 19.9%, p = 0.013), and there were differences in the severity of anxiety between the genders (IBD: p < 0.001; UC: p < 0.001; CD: p = 0.050). The proportion of depression in females was higher than in males (IBD: 33.1% vs. 27.7%, p = 0.005; UC: 34.4% vs. 28.9%, p = 0.031; CD: 30.6% vs. 26.6%, p = 0.184), and there were differences in the severity of depression between the genders (IBD: p = 0.004; UC: p = 0.022; CD: p = 0.312). The proportion suffering from sleep disturbances among females was slightly higher than among males (IBD: 63.2% vs. 58.4%, p = 0.018; UC: 63.4% vs. 58.1%, p = 0.047; CD: 62.7% vs. 58.6%, p = 0.210), and the proportion of females with a poor quality of life was higher than that of males (IBD: 41.8% vs. 35.2%, p = 0.001; UC: 45.1% vs. 39.8%, p = 0.049; CD: 35.4% vs. 30.8%, p = 0.141). The AUC values of the female and male nomogram prediction models for predicting poor quality of life were 0.770 (95% CI: 0.7391-0.7998) and 0.771 (95% CI: 0.7466-0.7952), respectively. The calibration diagrams of the two models showed that the calibration curves fitted well with the ideal curve, and the DCA that showed nomogram models could bring clinical benefits. CONCLUSIONS There were significant gender differences in the psychological symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life of IBD patients, suggesting that females need more psychological support. In addition, a nomogram model with high accuracy and performance was constructed to predict the quality of life of IBD patients of different genders, which is helpful for the timely clinical formulation of personalized intervention plans that can improve the prognosis of patients and save medical costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jixiang Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Ping An
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jiankang Xiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Rong Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Suqi Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Shuchun Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Beiying Deng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Zhongchun Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Changqing Jiang
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Jie Shi
- Department of Medical Psychology, Chinese People’s Liberation Army Rocket Army Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing 100088, China
| | - Kaichun Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
- Correspondence: (K.W.); (W.D.)
| | - Weiguo Dong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Correspondence: (K.W.); (W.D.)
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13
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Beisel C, Jordan-Paiz A, Köllmann S, Ahrenstorf AE, Padoan B, Barkhausen T, Addo MM, Altfeld M. Sex differences in the percentage of IRF5 positive B cells are associated with higher production of TNF-α in women in response to TLR9 in humans. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:11. [PMID: 36814288 PMCID: PMC9945365 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00495-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical course and outcome of many diseases differ between women and men, with women experiencing a higher prevalence and more severe pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The precise mechanisms underlying these sex differences still remain to be fully understood. IRF5 is a master transcription factor that regulates TLR/MyD88-mediated responses to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) in DCs and B cells. B cells are central effector cells involved in autoimmune diseases via the production of antibodies and pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as mediating T cell help. Dysregulation of IRF5 expression has been reported in autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, primary Sjögren syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS In the current study, we analyzed whether the percentage of IRF5 positive B cells differs between women and men and assessed the resulting consequences for the production of inflammatory cytokines after TLR7- or TLR9 stimulation. RESULTS The percentage of IRF5 positive B cells was significantly higher in B cells of women compared to men in both unstimulated and TLR7- or TLR9-stimulated B cells. B cells of women produced higher levels of TNF-α in response to TLR9 stimulation. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our data contribute to the understanding of sex differences in immune responses and may identify IRF5 as a potential therapeutic target to reduce harmful B cell-mediated immune responses in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Beisel
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany. .,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany. .,Research Department Virus Immunology, Leibniz Institute of Virology, 20251, Hamburg, Germany. .,Department of Internal Medicine IV, Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Ana Jordan-Paiz
- Research Department Virus Immunology, Leibniz Institute of Virology, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Köllmann
- grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany ,grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Benedetta Padoan
- Research Department Virus Immunology, Leibniz Institute of Virology, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tanja Barkhausen
- grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany ,Research Department Virus Immunology, Leibniz Institute of Virology, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marylyn M. Addo
- grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany ,grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Altfeld
- grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany ,Research Department Virus Immunology, Leibniz Institute of Virology, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
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14
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Rudyk M, Hurmach Y, Serhiichuk T, Akulenko I, Skivka L, Berehova T, Ostapchenko L. Multi-probiotic consumption sex-dependently interferes with MSG-induced obesity and concomitant phagocyte pro-inflammatory polarization in rats: Food for thought about personalized nutrition. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13381. [PMID: 36816299 PMCID: PMC9932736 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemic scope which obesity has reached in many countries necessitates shifting the emphasis in medicine from traditional reaction to individualized and personalized prevention. Numerous trials convincingly prove sexual dimorphism of obesity in morbidity, pathophysiology, comorbidity, outcomes and prophylaxis efficacy. Obesity is characterized by chronic systemic low-grade inflammation that creates the preconditions for the emergence of numerous comorbidities. Leading role in the initiation, propagation and resolution of inflammation belongs to tissue resident and circulating phagocytes. The outcome of inflammation largely depends on phagocyte functional polarization, which in turn is governed by environmental stimuli. Gut microbiota (GM), whose disturbances are one of the key pathogenetic features in obesity, substantially affect phagocyte functions and can either aggravate or calm obesity-associated inflammation. Probiotics possess promising physiological functions, including microbiota-restoring and anti-inflammatory traits, that may possibly help prevent obesity. However, sex-specific effects of probiotic supplementation for targeted obesity prevention remain unknown. The aim of the current study was aimed to compare the effect of multi-probiotic preparation used in prophylactic regimen on the adiposity, profile of culturable GM and its short-chain fatty acids as well as on functional profile of phagocytes from different locations in male and female rats with monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced obesity. Obesity was induced by neonatal MSG injections in male and female rats, who were given the multi-species probiotic during juvenile and adult developmental stages. Culturable fecal and mucosa-associated microbiota of the intestine were examined using selective diagnostic media. Short-chain fatty acid profile in fecal samples was determined by GC-MS. Phagocyte functional profile was evaluated using flow cytometry and colorimetric methods. Probiotic supplementation after the administration of MSG prevented weight gain and fat accumulation, inflammatory phagocyte activation and alterations in GM in female rats. In male MSG-injected rats, probiotic supplementation restricted but did not prevent weight gain and fat deposition, alleviated but did not prevent systemic inflammation, prevented the alterations in GM, but with residual imbalance in the ratio of obligate anaerobic to facultative anaerobic bacteria. Our findings emphasize the necessity of sex-centered approaches to the prophylactic use of probiotics in obesity in the context of predictive preventive and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariia Rudyk
- Educational and Scientific Centre “Institute of Biology and Medicine”, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 2, Prospekt Hlushkov, Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine,Corresponding author.
| | - Yevheniia Hurmach
- Bogomolets National Medical University, 13, T. Shevchenko Blvd, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine
| | - Tetiana Serhiichuk
- Educational and Scientific Centre “Institute of Biology and Medicine”, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 2, Prospekt Hlushkov, Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine
| | - Iryna Akulenko
- Educational and Scientific Centre “Institute of Biology and Medicine”, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 2, Prospekt Hlushkov, Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine
| | - Larysa Skivka
- Educational and Scientific Centre “Institute of Biology and Medicine”, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 2, Prospekt Hlushkov, Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine
| | - Tetiana Berehova
- Educational and Scientific Centre “Institute of Biology and Medicine”, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 2, Prospekt Hlushkov, Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine
| | - Liudmyla Ostapchenko
- Educational and Scientific Centre “Institute of Biology and Medicine”, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, 2, Prospekt Hlushkov, Kyiv, 03022, Ukraine
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15
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Hachim SK, Ali AS, Arif KB. Effect of IL-6 and CRP titer with antibody level on severity of COVID-19 infection. Hum Antibodies 2023; 31:45-49. [PMID: 37482989 DOI: 10.3233/hab-230001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE SARS Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is combined with a high death rate and morbidity in different regions across the world. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine secreted in response to tissue injury, primarily produced by macrophages. C-reactive protein (CRP) is considered a part of innate immunity and is elevated in response to infection and cancer. METHODS This study includes one hundred patients infected with the viral pathogen known as SARS-CoV-2 and fifty healthy individuals attending Al-Salam Hospital in Baghdad. Approximately 5 ml of samples were collected from each virus-infected patient and healthy control, then separated by centrifuge and stored in a refrigerator until testing. The study timeline was from October 1st, 2020, to January 15th, 2021. The SARS-CoV-2 (IgM, IgG) antibody was measured using the immunofluorescent technique with the Afias instrument. The IL-6 was measured using the ELISA technique with a human Elisa reader. The CRP titer was measured using the immunofluorescent technique with the Afias instrument. The level of SARS-CoV-2 (IgM, IgG) antibody was 0.01 ± 0.004, 0.02 ± 0.004, respectively, in healthy controls, while in COVID-19 patients, the level of SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibody was 2.45 ± 1.87, and the level of IgG antibody was 5.16 ± 2.63 in COVID-19 patients. The IL-6 level was 0.88 ± 0.28, 5.82 ± 3.28 in healthy controls and COVID-19 patients, respectively. The CRP titer in healthy controls was 1.25 ± 0.36, while in COVID-19 patients, it was 13.8 ± 4.85. The aim of the research is to focus on the association between IL-6 level and CRP titer, with a concentration on COVID-19 patients, and to determine if IL-6 possesses the potential to serve as a biomarker for prognosticating the extent of COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadeq K Hachim
- Department of Nursing Technology, Institute of Medical Technology, Baghdad Middle Technical University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Aesha Saber Ali
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq
| | - Khalid B Arif
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Kirkuk University, Kirkuk, Iraq
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16
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Tan R, Jin M, Chen Z, Shao Y, Song Y, Yin J, Wang L, Chen T, Li J, Yang D. Exogenous antibiotic resistance gene contributes to intestinal inflammation by modulating the gut microbiome and inflammatory cytokine responses in mouse. Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2156764. [PMID: 36573825 PMCID: PMC9809935 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2156764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the gut microbiota by environmental factors is associated with a variety of autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases. In addition, naturally-occurring extracellular antibiotic resistance genes (eARGs) might directly enter the gut via the food chain. However, following gut microbiota exposure to eARGs, the ecological processes shaping the microbiota community assembly, as well as the interplay between the microbiota composition, metabolic function, and the immune responses, are not well understood. Increasing focus on the One Health approach has led to an urgent need to investigate the direct health damage caused by eARGs. Herein, we reveal the significant influence of eARGs on microbiota communities, strongly driven by stochastic processes. How eARGs-stimulate variations in the composition and metabolomic function of the gut microbiota led to cytokine responses in mice of different age and sex were investigated. The results revealed that cytokines were significantly associated with immunomodulatory microbes, metabolites, and ARGs biomarkers. Cytokine production was associated with specific metabolic pathways (arachidonic acid and tryptophan metabolic pathways), as confirmed by ex vivo cytokine responses and recovery experiments in vivo. Furthermore, the gut microbial profile could be applied to accurately predict the degree of intestinal inflammation ascribed to the eARGs (area under the curve = 0.9616). The present study provided a comprehensive understanding of the influence of an eARGs on immune responses and intestinal barrier damage, shedding light on the interplay between eARGs, microbial, metabolites, and the gut antibiotic resistome in modulating the human immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Tan
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, China,Junwen Li Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, No. 1 Dali Road, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Min Jin
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhengshan Chen
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, China
| | - Yifan Shao
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuanyuan Song
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Yin
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, China
| | - Tianjiao Chen
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, China
| | - Junwen Li
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, China,Junwen Li Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, No. 1 Dali Road, Tianjin 300050, China
| | - Dong Yang
- Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, Tianjin, China,CONTACT Dong Yang Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control for Environment & Food Safety, No. 1 Dali Road, Tianjin300050, China
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17
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Lisanti C, Basile D, Garattini SK, Parnofiello A, Corvaja C, Cortiula F, Bertoli E, Ongaro E, Foltran L, Casagrande M, Di Nardo P, Cardellino GG, Fasola G, Buonadonna A, Pella N, Aprile G, Puglisi F. The SAFFO Study: Sex-Related Prognostic Role and Cut-Off Definition of Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (MLR) in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010175. [PMID: 36612170 PMCID: PMC9818397 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Emerging data suggest that gender-related immune system composition affects both immune response and efficacy of immunotherapy in cancer patients (pts). This study aimed to investigate the sex-related prognostic role of MLR in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) pts. Methods: We analyzed a retrospective consecutive cohort of 490 mCRC patients treated from 2009 to 2018 at the Oncology Departments of Aviano and Pordenone (training set) and Udine (validation set), Italy. The prognostic impact of MLR on overall survival (OS) was evaluated with uni- and multivariable Cox regression models. The best cut-off value to predict survival was defined through ROC analyses. Results: Overall, we identified 288 males (59%) and 202 females (41%); 161 patients (33%) had a right-sided, 202 (42%) a left-sided primary, and 122 (25%) a rectal tumor. Interestingly, gender was associated with MLR (p = 0.004) and sidedness (p = 0.006). The obtained cut-off value for MLR in females and males was 0.27 and 0.49, respectively. According to univariate analysis of the training set, MLR (HR 9.07, p ≤ 0.001), MLR > 0.27 in females (HR 1.95, p = 0.003), and MLR > 0.49 in males (HR 2.65, p = 0.010) were associated with poorer OS, which was also confirmed in the validation set. In multivariate analysis, MLR > 0.27 in females (HR 2.77, p = 0.002), MLR > 0.49 in males (HR 5.39, p ≤ 0.001), BRAF mutation (HR 3.38, p ≤ 0.001), and peritoneal metastases (HR 2.50, p = 0.003) were still independently associated with worse OS. Conclusions: Males and females have a different immune response. Our study showed that high MLR, both in males and females, is an unfavorable Independent prognostic factor. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Lisanti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0434-659136
| | - Debora Basile
- Department of Medical Oncology, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, 88900 Crotone, Italy
| | | | - Annamaria Parnofiello
- Sandro Pitigliani Medical Oncology Department, Hospital of Prato, 59100 Prato, Italy
| | - Carla Corvaja
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | | | - Elisa Bertoli
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Elena Ongaro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Luisa Foltran
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | | | - Paola Di Nardo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | | | - Gianpiero Fasola
- Department of Oncology, ASUFC University Hospital, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Angela Buonadonna
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Pella
- Department of Oncology, ASUFC University Hospital, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Aprile
- Department of Medical Oncology, San Bortolo Hospital, Azienda ULSS8 Berica, 36100 Vicenza, Italy
| | - Fabio Puglisi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy
- Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
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18
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Snäkä T, Bekkar A, Desponds C, Prével F, Claudinot S, Isorce N, Teixeira F, Grasset C, Xenarios I, Lopez-Mejia IC, Fajas L, Fasel N. Sex-Biased Control of Inflammation and Metabolism by a Mitochondrial Nod-Like Receptor. Front Immunol 2022; 13:882867. [PMID: 35651602 PMCID: PMC9150262 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.882867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria regulate steroid hormone synthesis, and in turn sex hormones regulate mitochondrial function for maintaining cellular homeostasis and controlling inflammation. This crosstalk can explain sex differences observed in several pathologies such as in metabolic or inflammatory disorders. Nod-like receptor X1 (NLRX1) is a mitochondria-associated innate receptor that could modulate metabolic functions and attenuates inflammatory responses. Here, we showed that in an infectious model with the human protozoan parasite, Leishmania guyanensis, NLRX1 attenuated inflammation in females but not in male mice. Analysis of infected female and male bone marrow derived macrophages showed both sex- and genotype-specific differences in both inflammatory and metabolic profiles with increased type I interferon production, mitochondrial respiration, and glycolytic rate in Nlrx1-deficient female BMDMs in comparison to wild-type cells, while no differences were observed between males. Transcriptomics of female and male BMDMs revealed an altered steroid hormone signaling in Nlrx1-deficient cells, and a “masculinization” of Nlrx1-deficient female BMDMs. Thus, our findings suggest that NLRX1 prevents uncontrolled inflammation and metabolism in females and therefore may contribute to the sex differences observed in infectious and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiia Snäkä
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Amel Bekkar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Chantal Desponds
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Florence Prével
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | | | - Nathalie Isorce
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Filipa Teixeira
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Coline Grasset
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Ioannis Xenarios
- Agora Center, Center Hospitalier Universitaire (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Lluis Fajas
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Fasel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
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19
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The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in humans: State-of-the-art review and future directions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 136:104622. [PMID: 35300992 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The parasympathetic nervous system modulates inflammation through efferent vagus nerve signaling. Tracey (2002) termed this process as the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP). Interest in the potential practical use of this immune-modulatory process is increasing alongside increasing appreciation for the role of systemic inflammation in the etiology of somatic and psychological disease. A diverse literature exists providing expansive correlational evidence and some preliminary experimental evidence of the CAP in humans. However, so far this literature has not been well integrated and critically evaluated. This review describes the current state-of-the-art of research into vagus nerve driven parasympathetic control of inflammation in humans. Substantial limitations and gaps in the literature are identified, and promising directions for future research are highlighted.
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20
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De Francia S, Ferretti A, Chiara F, Allegra S, Mancardi D, Allice TG, Milia MG, Gregori G, Burdino E, Avanzini C, Ghisetti V, Durio A. The Influence of Sex, Gender, and Age on COVID-19 Data in the Piedmont Region (Northwest Italy): The Virus Prefers Men. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12050643. [PMID: 35629311 PMCID: PMC9148110 DOI: 10.3390/life12050643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Several important sex and gender differences in the clinical manifestation of diseases have been known for a long time but are still underestimated. The infectious Coronavirus 2019 disease pandemic has provided evidence of the importance of a sex and gender-based approach; it mainly affected men with worse symptomatology due to a different immune system, which is stronger in women, and to the Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and Transmembrane protease serine 2 roles which are differently expressed among the sexes. Additionally, women are more inclined to maintain social distance and smoke less. Analysis of data on the infectious Coronavirus 2019 disease testing from people admitted to the Amedeo di Savoia Hospital, a regional referral center for infectious diseases, has been applied to the whole of 2020 data (254,640 records). A high percentage of data in the dataset was not suitable due to a lack of information or entering errors. Among the suitable samples, records have been analyzed for positive/negative outcomes, matching records for unique subjects (N = 123,542), to evaluate individual recurrence of testing. Data are presented in age and sex-disaggregated ways. Analyses of the suitable sample also concerned the relation between testing and hospital admission motivation and symptoms. Our analysis indicated that a sex and gender-based approach is mandatory for patients and the National Health System’s sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia De Francia
- Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, University of Turin, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy; (F.C.); (S.A.); (D.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Francesco Chiara
- Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, University of Turin, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy; (F.C.); (S.A.); (D.M.)
| | - Sarah Allegra
- Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, University of Turin, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy; (F.C.); (S.A.); (D.M.)
| | - Daniele Mancardi
- Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences, University of Turin, S. Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy; (F.C.); (S.A.); (D.M.)
| | - Tiziano Giacomo Allice
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology ASL Turin, 10149 Turin, Italy; (T.G.A.); (M.G.M.); (G.G.); (E.B.); (C.A.); (V.G.)
| | - Maria Grazia Milia
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology ASL Turin, 10149 Turin, Italy; (T.G.A.); (M.G.M.); (G.G.); (E.B.); (C.A.); (V.G.)
| | - Gabriella Gregori
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology ASL Turin, 10149 Turin, Italy; (T.G.A.); (M.G.M.); (G.G.); (E.B.); (C.A.); (V.G.)
| | - Elisa Burdino
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology ASL Turin, 10149 Turin, Italy; (T.G.A.); (M.G.M.); (G.G.); (E.B.); (C.A.); (V.G.)
| | - Claudio Avanzini
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology ASL Turin, 10149 Turin, Italy; (T.G.A.); (M.G.M.); (G.G.); (E.B.); (C.A.); (V.G.)
| | - Valeria Ghisetti
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology ASL Turin, 10149 Turin, Italy; (T.G.A.); (M.G.M.); (G.G.); (E.B.); (C.A.); (V.G.)
| | - Alessandra Durio
- Department of Economics and Statistics “Cognetti de Martiis”, University of Turin, 10153 Turin, Italy;
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21
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Okiring J, Epstein A, Namuganga JF, Kamya EV, Nabende I, Nassali M, Sserwanga A, Gonahasa S, Muwema M, Kiwuwa SM, Staedke SG, Kamya MR, Nankabirwa JI, Briggs J, Jagannathan P, Dorsey G. Gender difference in the incidence of malaria diagnosed at public health facilities in Uganda. Malar J 2022; 21:22. [PMID: 35062952 PMCID: PMC8778495 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04046-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Routine malaria surveillance data in Africa primarily come from public health facilities reporting to national health management information systems. Although information on gender is routinely collected from patients presenting to these health facilities, stratification of malaria surveillance data by gender is rarely done. This study evaluated gender difference among patients diagnosed with parasitological confirmed malaria at public health facilities in Uganda. METHODS This study utilized individual level patient data collected from January 2020 through April 2021 at 12 public health facilities in Uganda and cross-sectional surveys conducted in target areas around these facilities in April 2021. Associations between gender and the incidence of malaria and non-malarial visits captured at the health facilities from patients residing within the target areas were estimated using poisson regression models controlling for seasonality. Associations between gender and data on health-seeking behaviour from the cross-sectional surveys were estimated using poisson regression models controlling for seasonality. RESULTS Overall, incidence of malaria diagnosed per 1000 person years was 735 among females and 449 among males (IRR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.68-1.77, p < 0.001), with larger differences among those 15-39 years (IRR = 2.46, 95% CI 2.34-2.58, p < 0.001) and over 39 years (IRR = 2.26, 95% CI 2.05-2.50, p < 0.001) compared to those under 15 years (IRR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.41-1.50, p < 0.001). Female gender was also associated with a higher incidence of visits where malaria was not suspected (IRR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.71-1.83, p < 0.001), with a similar pattern across age strata. These associations were consistent across the 12 individual health centres. From the cross-sectional surveys, females were more likely than males to report fever in the past 2 weeks and seek care at the local health centre (7.5% vs. 4.7%, p = 0.001) with these associations significant for those 15-39 years (RR = 2.49, 95% CI 1.17-5.31, p = 0.018) and over 39 years (RR = 2.56, 95% CI 1.00-6.54, p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS Females disproportionately contribute to the burden of malaria diagnosed at public health facilities in Uganda, especially once they reach childbearing age. Contributing factors included more frequent visits to these facilities independent of malaria and a higher reported risk of seeking care at these facilities for febrile illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaffer Okiring
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda. .,Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, 2C Nakasero Hill Road, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Adrienne Epstein
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Jane F Namuganga
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, 2C Nakasero Hill Road, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Emmanuel V Kamya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, 2C Nakasero Hill Road, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Isaiah Nabende
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, 2C Nakasero Hill Road, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Martha Nassali
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, 2C Nakasero Hill Road, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Asadu Sserwanga
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, 2C Nakasero Hill Road, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Samuel Gonahasa
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, 2C Nakasero Hill Road, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Mercy Muwema
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Steven M Kiwuwa
- Department of Child Health and Development Centre, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sarah G Staedke
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Moses R Kamya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, 2C Nakasero Hill Road, Kampala, Uganda.,School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joaniter I Nankabirwa
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.,Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, 2C Nakasero Hill Road, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jessica Briggs
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Prasanna Jagannathan
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Grant Dorsey
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
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22
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Lang D, Brauner A, Huemer F, Rinnerthaler G, Horner A, Wass R, Brehm E, Kaiser B, Greil R, Lamprecht B. Sex-Based Clinical Outcome in Advanced NSCLC Patients Undergoing PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitor Therapy-A Retrospective Bi-Centric Cohort Study. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010093. [PMID: 35008255 PMCID: PMC8750380 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Retrospective analyses suggest that men treated with immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have better outcomes than women. However, female patients have more favorable responses when chemotherapy (CHT) is given together with ICI. We aimed to explore the clinical impact of such sex differences in two cohorts, receiving ICI monotherapy or ICI-CHT combination, respectively. We found no significant difference in outcomes between men and women treated with either therapeutic regimen. However, known predictive factors for ICI response such as the expression of programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells or patient performance status had significant implications for men rather than for women. Our results warrant increased research efforts to clarify sex-specific differences in anti-tumor immune response mechanisms and in the efficacy of ICI therapies, especially in women. Abstract Men with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a more favorable response to immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy, while women especially benefit from ICI-chemotherapy (CHT) combinations. To elucidate such sex differences in clinical practice, we retrospectively analyzed two cohorts treated with either ICI monotherapy (n = 228) or ICI-CHT combination treatment (n = 80) for advanced NSCLC. Kaplan–Meier analyses were used to calculate progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS), influencing variables were evaluated using Cox-regression analyses. No significant sex differences for PFS/OS could be detected in either cohort. Men receiving ICI monotherapy had a statistically significant independent impact on PFS by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG) ≥2 (hazard ratio (HR) 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10–3.29, p = 0.021), higher C-reactive protein (CRP; HR 1.06, 95%CI: 1.00–1.11, p = 0.037) and negative programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) status (HR 2.04, 95%CI: 1.32–3.15, p = 0.001), and on OS by CRP (HR 1.09, 95%CI: 1.03–1.14, p = 0.002). In men on ICI-CHT combinations, multivariate analyses (MVA) revealed squamous histology (HR 4.00, 95%CI: 1.41–11.2, p = 0.009) significant for PFS; and ECOG ≥ 2 (HR 5.58, 95%CI: 1.88–16.5, p = 0.002) and CRP (HR 1.19, 95%CI: 1.06–1.32, p = 0.002) for OS. Among women undergoing ICI monotherapy, no variable proved significant for PFS, while ECOG ≥ 2 had a significant interaction with OS (HR 1.90, 95%CI 1.04–3.46, p = 0.037). Women treated with ICI-CHT had significant MVA findings for CRP with both PFS (HR 1.09, 95%CI: 1.02–1.16, p = 0.007) and OS (HR 1.11, 95%CI: 1.03–1.19, p = 0.004). Although men and women responded similarly to both ICI mono- and ICI-CHT treatment, predictors of response differed by sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Lang
- Department of Pulmonology, Johannes Kepler University Hospital Linz, Krankenhausstrasse 9, 4020 Linz, Austria; (A.H.); (R.W.); (E.B.); (B.K.); (B.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-576-8083-6911
| | - Anna Brauner
- Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4020 Linz, Austria;
| | - Florian Huemer
- Oncologic Center, Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (F.H.); (G.R.); (R.G.)
- Cancer Cluster Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
- Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Gabriel Rinnerthaler
- Oncologic Center, Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (F.H.); (G.R.); (R.G.)
- Cancer Cluster Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
- Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Andreas Horner
- Department of Pulmonology, Johannes Kepler University Hospital Linz, Krankenhausstrasse 9, 4020 Linz, Austria; (A.H.); (R.W.); (E.B.); (B.K.); (B.L.)
| | - Romana Wass
- Department of Pulmonology, Johannes Kepler University Hospital Linz, Krankenhausstrasse 9, 4020 Linz, Austria; (A.H.); (R.W.); (E.B.); (B.K.); (B.L.)
| | - Elmar Brehm
- Department of Pulmonology, Johannes Kepler University Hospital Linz, Krankenhausstrasse 9, 4020 Linz, Austria; (A.H.); (R.W.); (E.B.); (B.K.); (B.L.)
| | - Bernhard Kaiser
- Department of Pulmonology, Johannes Kepler University Hospital Linz, Krankenhausstrasse 9, 4020 Linz, Austria; (A.H.); (R.W.); (E.B.); (B.K.); (B.L.)
| | - Richard Greil
- Oncologic Center, Department of Internal Medicine III with Haematology, Medical Oncology, Haemostaseology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (F.H.); (G.R.); (R.G.)
- Cancer Cluster Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
- Salzburg Cancer Research Institute-Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research (SCRI-LIMCR), 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Bernd Lamprecht
- Department of Pulmonology, Johannes Kepler University Hospital Linz, Krankenhausstrasse 9, 4020 Linz, Austria; (A.H.); (R.W.); (E.B.); (B.K.); (B.L.)
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23
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Lv M, Chen X, Huang X, Liu N, Wang W, Liu H. Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Sexual Disparities between Olfactory and Immune Gene Expression in the Olfactory Epithelium of Megalobrama amblycephala. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13017. [PMID: 34884822 PMCID: PMC8658043 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222313017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The olfactory organ is an important chemoreceptor in vertebrates. However, the sexual disparities in gene expression patterns in the olfactory organ in fish remain unstudied. Here, we conducted a transcriptome analysis of the olfactory epithelium (OE) of male and female blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) to identify the differences. The histological analysis showed that there were 22 leaf-like olfactory lamellaes on one side of the OE of the adult blunt snout bream. The sensory area of OE is enriched with ciliated receptor cells and microvilli receptor cells. The transcriptome analysis showed that only 10 out of 336 olfactory receptor genes (224 ORs, 5 V1Rs, 55 V2Rs, and 52 TAARs) exhibited significant expression differences between males and females, and most of the differentially expressed genes were related to the immune system. We also validated these results using qPCR: 10 OR genes and 6 immunity-related genes significantly differed between males and females. The FISH analysis results indicated that the ORs were mainly expressed at the edge of the olfactory lamellae. Collectively, our study reveals that gender is not an important factor influencing the expression of olfactory receptors, but the expression of immune genes varies greatly between the genders in blunt snout bream.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maolin Lv
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (M.L.); (X.H.); (N.L.); (W.W.)
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiuli Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Aquatic Genetic Breeding and Healthy Aquaculture, Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning 530021, China;
| | - Xin Huang
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (M.L.); (X.H.); (N.L.); (W.W.)
| | - Ning Liu
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (M.L.); (X.H.); (N.L.); (W.W.)
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Weimin Wang
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (M.L.); (X.H.); (N.L.); (W.W.)
| | - Han Liu
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (M.L.); (X.H.); (N.L.); (W.W.)
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Engineering Research Center of Green Development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
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24
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Effect of chewing betel nut on the gut microbiota of Hainanese. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258489. [PMID: 34648581 PMCID: PMC8516201 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Betel nut chewing (BNC) is prevalent in South Asia and Southeast Asia. BNC can affect host health by modulating the gut microbiota. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of BNC on the gut microbiota of the host. Feces samples were obtained from 34 BNC individuals from Ledong and Lingshui, Hainan, China. The microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. BNC decreased the microbial α-diversity. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria were the predominant phyla, accounting for 99.35% of the BNC group. The Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio was significantly increased in the BNC group compared to a control group. The abundances of the families Aerococcaceae, Neisseriaceae, Moraxellaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, and Planococcaceae were decreased in the BNC/BNC_Male/BNC_Female groups compared to the control group, whereas the abundances of Coriobacteriaceae, Streptococcaceae, Micrococcaceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Coxiellaceae, Nocardioidaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, and Succinivibrionaceae were increased. In general, the gut microbiome profiles suggest that BNC may have positive effects, such as an increase in the abundance of beneficial microbes and a reduction in the abundance of disease-related microbes. However, BNC may also produce an increase in the abundance of disease-related microbes. Therefore, extraction of prebiotic components could increase the beneficial value of betel nut.
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25
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Yuan S, Wang N, Wang JL, Pan J, Xue XY, Zhang YN, Ma T. Gender differences in Damp-Heat Syndrome: A review. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 143:112128. [PMID: 34492424 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Gender differences have important biological significance for medical research. In this study, a bias towards males was identified in animal experiments of Damp-Heat Syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine, as was first proposed by a data mining method. Combined with the correlation between Damp-Heat Syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine and Gender differences, it was considered that Gender-related factors have a significant influence on the development of Damp-Heat Syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine. However, most traditional Chinese medicine studies ignore the key significance of Gender-related factors. This study emphasises that the development of modern traditional Chinese medicine research needs to pay full attention to the biological significance of Gender-related factors and to apply this concept to the research on the Gender equivalence strategy in basic research and the practice of personalised medical diagnosis and clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Yuan
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, PR China
| | - Ning Wang
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Literature and Culture, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, PR China
| | - Jun-Lei Wang
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Literature and Culture, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, PR China
| | - Jin Pan
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, PR China
| | - Xiao-Yan Xue
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, PR China
| | - Ya-Nan Zhang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, PR China; Shandong Co-Innovation Centre of Classic TCM formula, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, PR China.
| | - Ting Ma
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, PR China; Shandong Co-Innovation Centre of Classic TCM formula, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, PR China.
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26
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Fernández-Martínez NF, Ortiz-González-Serna R, Serrano-Ortiz Á, Rivera-Izquierdo M, Ruiz-Montero R, Pérez-Contreras M, Guerrero-Fernández de Alba I, Romero-Duarte Á, Salcedo-Leal I. Sex Differences and Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality among Patients with COVID-19: Results from the ANCOHVID Multicentre Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:9018. [PMID: 34501608 PMCID: PMC8431708 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Spain is one of the countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although risk factors for severe disease are published, sex differences have been widely neglected. In this multicentre study, we aimed to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality in men and women hospitalised with COVID-19. An observational longitudinal study was conducted in the cohort of patients admitted to four hospitals in Andalusia, Spain, from 1 March 2020 to 15 April 2020. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from hospital records. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate 30-day survival and multiple Cox regression models were applied. All analyses were stratified by sex. A total of 968 patients were included (54.8% men, median age 67.0 years). In-hospital mortality reached 19.1% in men and 16.0% in women. Factors independently associated with an increased hazard of death were advanced age, higher CURB-65 score and not receiving azithromycin treatment, in both sexes; active cancer and autoimmune disease, in men; cardiovascular disease and chronic lung disease, in women. Disease outcomes and predictors of death differed between sexes. In-hospital mortality was higher in men, but the long-term effects of COVID-19 merit further research. The sex-differential impact of the pandemic should be addressed in public health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Francisco Fernández-Martínez
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica Interniveles de Prevención, Promoción y Vigilancia de la Salud, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (N.F.F.-M.); (R.O.-G.-S.); (Á.S.-O.); (I.S.-L.)
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Research Group, Maimonides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Rocío Ortiz-González-Serna
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica Interniveles de Prevención, Promoción y Vigilancia de la Salud, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (N.F.F.-M.); (R.O.-G.-S.); (Á.S.-O.); (I.S.-L.)
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Research Group, Maimonides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Álvaro Serrano-Ortiz
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica Interniveles de Prevención, Promoción y Vigilancia de la Salud, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (N.F.F.-M.); (R.O.-G.-S.); (Á.S.-O.); (I.S.-L.)
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Research Group, Maimonides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Mario Rivera-Izquierdo
- Service of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hospital Universitario Clínico San Cecilio, 18016 Granada, Spain; (M.R.-I.); (I.G.-F.d.A.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria, ibs. Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Rafael Ruiz-Montero
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica Interniveles de Prevención, Promoción y Vigilancia de la Salud, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (N.F.F.-M.); (R.O.-G.-S.); (Á.S.-O.); (I.S.-L.)
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Research Group, Maimonides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Marina Pérez-Contreras
- Service of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hospital Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain;
| | - Inmaculada Guerrero-Fernández de Alba
- Service of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hospital Universitario Clínico San Cecilio, 18016 Granada, Spain; (M.R.-I.); (I.G.-F.d.A.)
- Service of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén, 23007 Jaén, Spain
| | | | - Inmaculada Salcedo-Leal
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica Interniveles de Prevención, Promoción y Vigilancia de la Salud, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; (N.F.F.-M.); (R.O.-G.-S.); (Á.S.-O.); (I.S.-L.)
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Research Group, Maimonides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Cordoba (IMIBIC), 14004 Córdoba, Spain
- Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
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Xing E, Billi AC, Gudjonsson JE. Sex Bias and Autoimmune Diseases. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:857-866. [PMID: 34362556 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Sex bias in immune function has been well-described, and women have been shown to counter immunologically stimulating phenomena such as infection, malignancy, and trauma with more protective responses than men. Heightened immunity in women may also result in a predisposition for loss of self-tolerance and development of autoimmunity, reflected by the overwhelming female sex bias of patients with autoimmune diseases. In this review, we discuss the postulated evolutionary etiologies for sexual dimorphism in immunity. We also review the molecular mechanisms underlying divergent immune responses in men and women, including sex hormone effects, X chromosome dosage, and autosomal sex-biased genes. With increasing evidence that autoimmune disease susceptibility is influenced by numerous hormonal and genetic factors, a comprehensive understanding of these topics may facilitate the development of much-needed targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enze Xing
- Department of Dermatology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Allison C Billi
- Department of Dermatology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Johann E Gudjonsson
- Department of Dermatology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
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Disparate regulation of IMD signaling drives sex differences in infection pathology in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2026554118. [PMID: 34341118 PMCID: PMC8364183 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026554118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in infection outcome are a widely observed phenomenon. While it is known that biological sex can influence an animal’s response to infection, the mechanisms through which these differences emerge are less clear. Here, we describe a mechanism through which heightened regulation of the IMD signaling pathway by female—but not male—Drosophila melanogaster reduces the cost of immune activity at the expense of resistance to bacterial infection. Through the masculinization of the main organ responsible for antimicrobial peptide activity in the fly (fat body), this work demonstrates that this heightened immune regulation is mediated by sex-determining pathways. Male and female animals exhibit differences in infection outcomes. One possible source of sexually dimorphic immunity is the sex-specific costs of immune activity or pathology, but little is known about the independent effects of immune- versus microbe-induced pathology and whether these may differ for the sexes. Here, by measuring metabolic and physiological outputs in Drosophila melanogaster with wild-type and mutant immune responses, we test whether the sexes are differentially impacted by these various sources of pathology and identify a critical regulator of this difference. We find that the sexes exhibit differential immune activity but similar bacteria-derived metabolic pathology. We show that female-specific immune-inducible expression of PGRP-LB, a negative regulator of the immune deficiency (IMD) pathway, enables females to reduce immune activity in response to reductions in bacterial numbers. In the absence of PGRP-LB, females are more resistant to infection, confirming the functional importance of this regulation and suggesting that female-biased immune restriction comes at a cost.
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29
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Campesi I, Montella A, Franconi F. Human monocytes respond to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in a sex-dependent manner. J Cell Physiol 2021; 237:580-588. [PMID: 34252202 PMCID: PMC9292909 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Monocytes play a critical role in inflammation and immune response, their activity being sex‐dependent. However, the basis of sex differences is not well understood. Therefore, we investigated the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) effects on tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) release, autophagy, and chemotaxis in freshly isolated monocytes from healthy young men and women. In basal conditions, male and female monocytes had similar TNF‐α release, chemotaxis, and estrogen receptors (ER‐α) and ER‐β expression, while the LC3II/I ratio was significantly higher in males. LPS treatment induced qualitative and quantitative sex differences. It reduced autophagy and increased TNF‐α release only in male monocytes, while, chemotaxis was significantly influenced only in female cells. Moreover, it reduced the expression of ER‐α only in female cells, while ER‐β expression was reduced in both sexes, but more markedly in female cells. Finally, the interplay between LPS treatment and 17‐β‐estradiol (E2) was present only in female cells. Globally, these findings expand the concept that sex plays a role in regulating monocytes' functions, being sex differences cell‐ and parameter‐specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Campesi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università Degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy.,Laboratorio Nazionale di Medicina e Farmacologia di Genere, Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture Biosistemi, Sassari, Italy
| | - Andrea Montella
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Università Degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Flavia Franconi
- Laboratorio Nazionale di Medicina e Farmacologia di Genere, Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture Biosistemi, Sassari, Italy
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30
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Nigar S, Shah ST, Setu MAA, Dip SD, Ibnat H, Islam MT, Akter S, Jahid IK, Hossain MA. Relative expression of proinflammatory molecules in COVID-19 patients who manifested disease severities. J Med Virol 2021; 93:5805-5815. [PMID: 34061395 PMCID: PMC8242694 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Aggressive immune response, due to overexpressed proinflammatory molecules, has been characterized in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients. Some of those mediators have a dual and opposite role on immune systems at play behind differential disease severities. We investigated the expression of some cytokines and chemokines in COVID‐19 patients in Bangladesh. We diagnosed the patients by detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA in nasal swab samples by the real‐time RT‐PCR method. Thirty adult patients were preselected based on their disease severities and grouped into mild, moderate, and severe cases. Nine healthy volunteers participated in this study as a control. Relative expression of nine cytokines/chemokine in total leukocytes was semi‐quantified in SYBRgreen‐based real‐time quantitative reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. We performed statistical tests on transformed log data using SPSS 24.0. At the onset of symptoms (Day 1), angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) (p < 0.05) and interleukin (IL)‐6 (p > 0.05) were upregulated in all COVID‐19 groups, although the expression levels did not significantly correlate with disease severities. However, expressions of IL‐6, monocyte chemotactic protein‐1, macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), and ACE2, on Day 14, were positively correlated with disease severities. Relative viral load at Day 1 showed no significant correlation with cytokine expression but had a significant positive correlation with RANTES and ACE2 expression on Day 14 (p < 0.05). Male patients had a higher level of IL‐6 than female patients on Day 1 (p < 0.05). All COVID‐19 patients showed upregulated cytokines and chemokines on Day 14 compared to Day 1 except TNF‐α. Female patients had a higher expression of ACE2 and IL‐12 on Day 14. Upregulated cytokines/chemokines at the convalescent stage, especially IL‐6, may help in targeting anticytokine therapy in post‐COVID‐19 patients' management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shireen Nigar
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Sm Tanjil Shah
- Department of Microbiology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.,Department of Microbiology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ali Ahasan Setu
- Department of Microbiology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Sourav Dutta Dip
- Department of Microbiology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Habiba Ibnat
- Department of Microbiology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - M Touhidul Islam
- Department of Cardiology, 250 Bedded General Hospital, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Selina Akter
- Department of Microbiology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Iqbal Kabir Jahid
- Department of Microbiology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh.,Genome Center, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - M Anwar Hossain
- Department of Microbiology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.,Genome Center, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh.,Vice-chancellor, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
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Sex-Related Differences in Allelic Frequency of the Human Beta T Cell Receptor SNP rs1800907: A Retrospective Analysis from Milan Metropolitan Area. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9040333. [PMID: 33915945 PMCID: PMC8066715 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9040333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper aims at retrospectively re-analyzing the different distribution, between males and females, in the allelic frequency of the human β T cell receptor (TCR β) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) rs1800907 in Caucasian patients in the Milan metropolitan area. The allelic frequency significantly differed between sexes. Females showed higher frequency of C/C genotype than males, but lower T/C genotype (p < 0.0001). Heterozygous (T/C) versus homozygous (T/T + C/C) genotypes resulted in a different distribution of frequencies in males than in females, the latter possessing higher homozygosis (p < 0.0001). Within the limitations of this work (small number of included studies that concerned just a specific geographical area), allelic distribution according to sex might account the role of TCRβ-related SNPs in autoimmune diseases and further investigations are required to explain better this genetic background, in the perspective of a sex-related T cell immune responsiveness and auto-immunity.
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32
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Cho YA, Han JM, Kang SY, Kim DC, Youn YJ, Choi KH, Gwak HS. Analysis of Risk Factors for Hepatotoxicity Induced by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. J Immunother 2021; 44:16-21. [PMID: 33290362 DOI: 10.1097/cji.0000000000000347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Although hepatotoxicity induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) can cause severe clinical complications, the risk factors associated with hepatotoxicity have rarely been investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential risk factors for the incidence of hepatotoxicity and for time to ICPI-induced hepatotoxicity. Patients who received ICPIs (atezolizumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and ipilimumab) were included in this retrospective 2-center study. Collected data included sex, age, body weight, body surface area, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, underlying disease, liver metastasis, programmed cell death ligand-1 expression, interval from previous chemotherapy, and concomitant drug use. Among the 194 patients, patients who experienced hepatotoxicity after ICPI administration was 64.4% (n=125) in all grade and 10.8% (n=21) in grade III or higher. Multivariate analysis showed that patients aged 30-50 and 50-70 years had increased risks of hepatotoxicity by 4.9-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.3-18.0) and 2.7-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.3-5.5), respectively, compared with those older than 70 years. The use of acetaminophen increased the occurrence of hepatotoxicity by 2.1 times; the attributable risk was 53.2%. Male patients and patients younger than 65 years had around 1.5-fold increased hazard of time to reach hepatotoxicity. Patients treated with 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors had a 4.7-fold higher risk of grade III-IV hepatotoxicity compared with those without HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors; the attributable risk was 78.8%. In conclusion, close monitoring of liver function is recommended, especially in male patients, patients younger than 65 years old, and when there is concomitant use of hepatotoxic drugs including acetaminophen and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Ah Cho
- College of Pharmacy, Gyeongsang National University
- Mokhwa Convalescent Hospital
| | - Ji Min Han
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Osong
| | - Sun Young Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Graduate School of Clinical Biohealth, Ewha Womans University
- Department of Pharmacy, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul
| | - Dong Chul Kim
- Department of Pathology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do Province
| | - Young Ju Youn
- Department of Pharmacy, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul
| | - Kyung Hee Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeollanam-do Province, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Sun Gwak
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Graduate School of Clinical Biohealth, Ewha Womans University
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Abate BB, Kassie AM, Kassaw MW, Aragie TG, Masresha SA. Sex difference in coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e040129. [PMID: 33028563 PMCID: PMC7539579 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the sex difference in the prevalence of COVID-19 confirmed cases. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING PubMed, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched for related information. The authors developed a data extraction form on an Excel sheet and the following data from eligible studies were extracted: author, country, sample size, number of female patients and number of male patients. Using STATA V.14 for analysis, the authors pooled the overall prevalence of men and/or women using a random-effect meta-analysis model. The authors examined the heterogeneity in effect size using Q statistics and I2 statistics. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Publication bias was also checked. PARTICIPANTS Studies on COVID-19 confirmed cases were included. INTERVENTION Sex (male/female) of COVID-19 confirmed cases was considered. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was prevalence of COVID-19 among men and women. RESULTS A total of 57 studies with 221 195 participants were used in the analysis. The pooled prevalence of COVID-19 among men was found to be 55.00 (51.43-56.58, I2=99.5%, p<0.001). Sensitivity analysis showed the findings were not dependent on a single study. Moreover, a funnel plot showed symmetrical distribution. Egger's regression test p value was not significant, which indicates absence of publication bias in both outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of symptomatic COVID-19 was found to be higher in men than in women. The high prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption contributed to the high prevalence of COVID-19 among men. Additional studies on the discrepancies in severity and mortality rate due to COVID-19 among men and women and the associated factors are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Setamlak Adane Masresha
- College of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Woldia University, Woldia, Amhara, Ethiopia
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Abstract
A first step towards personalized medicine is to consider whether, for some disorders, the safest and most effective treatment of women needs to differ from standard guideline recommendations developed on the basis of clinical trials conducted, for the most part, in men. A second step is to consider how women’s reproductive stages—pre-pubertal years, menstrual phases, pregnancy trimesters, lactation and postpartum periods, menopausal and postmenopausal/aging status—affect the optimal choice of treatment. This review focuses on these two steps in the treatment of psychosis, specifically schizophrenia. It discusses genetics, precursors and symptoms of schizophrenia, reproductive and associated ethical issues, antipsychotic drug response and adverse effects, substance abuse, victimization and perpetration of violence, and issues of immigration and of co-morbidity. The conclusions, while often based on clinical experience and theoretical considerations rather than strictly on the evidence of randomized controlled trials, are that clinical recommendations need to consider clinical and role differences that exist between men and women and make appropriate correction for age and reproductive status.
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TNF genetic polymorphism (rs1799964) may modify the effect of the dietary inflammatory index on gastric cancer in a case-control study. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14590. [PMID: 32883994 PMCID: PMC7471946 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71433-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The inflammatory process is known to increase the risk of gastric carcinogenesis, and both genetic and dietary factors are associated with inflammation. In the present study of 1,125 participants (373 cases and 752 controls), we determined whether the dietary inflammatory index (DII) is associated with the risk of gastric cancer (GC) and investigated whether a TNF polymorphism (rs1799964) modifies this association. Semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire derived data were used to calculate the DII scores. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using multivariable logistic models adjusted for confounders. When we stratified the data by sex, the association between GC and the DII was significant only among the women (OR, 2.27; 95% CI 1.25-4.19), and the DII effect on the risk of GC differed depending on the TNF genotype (OR, 2.30; 95% CI 1.27-4.24 in TT genotype; OR, 0.78; 95% CI 0.37-1.65 in CC + CT, p for interaction = 0.035). Furthermore, the association between the DII and GC was significant in the Helicobacter pylori-positive group; similarly, the effect differed based on the TNF genotype (OR, 1.76; 95% CI 1.13-2.73 in TT genotype; OR,0.98; 95% CI 0.54-1.77 in CT + CC, p for interaction = 0.034). In conclusion, rs1799964 may modify the effect of the DII on GC.
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36
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Uehara IA, Soldi LR, Silva MJB. Current perspectives of osteoclastogenesis through estrogen modulated immune cell cytokines. Life Sci 2020; 256:117921. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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37
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Gadi N, Wu SC, Spihlman AP, Moulton VR. What's Sex Got to Do With COVID-19? Gender-Based Differences in the Host Immune Response to Coronaviruses. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2147. [PMID: 32983176 PMCID: PMC7485092 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the cause of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has ravaged the world, with over 22 million total cases and over 770,000 deaths worldwide as of August 18, 2020. While the elderly are most severely affected, implicating an age bias, a striking factor in the demographics of this deadly disease is the gender bias, with higher numbers of cases, greater disease severity, and higher death rates among men than women across the lifespan. While pre-existing comorbidities and social, behavioral, and lifestyle factors contribute to this bias, biological factors underlying the host immune response may be crucial contributors. Women mount stronger immune responses to infections and vaccinations and outlive men. Sex-based biological factors underlying the immune response are therefore important determinants of susceptibility to infections, disease outcomes, and mortality. Despite this, gender is a profoundly understudied and often overlooked variable in research related to the immune response and infectious diseases, and it is largely ignored in drug and vaccine clinical trials. Understanding these factors will not only help better understand the pathogenesis of COVID-19, but it will also guide the design of effective therapies and vaccine strategies for gender-based personalized medicine. This review focuses on sex-based differences in genes, sex hormones, and the microbiome underlying the host immune response and their relevance to infections with a focus on coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirupa Gadi
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Samantha C. Wu
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Allison P. Spihlman
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Vaishali R. Moulton
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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38
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Sex and Gender Influences on Cancer Immunotherapy Response. Biomedicines 2020; 8:biomedicines8070232. [PMID: 32708265 PMCID: PMC7400663 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8070232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The global burden of cancer is growing and a wide disparity in the incidence, malignancy and mortality of different types of cancer between each sex has been demonstrated. The sex specificity of cancer appears to be a relevant issue in the management of the disease, and studies investigating the role of sex and gender are becoming extremely urgent. Sex hormones are presumably the leading actors of sex differences in cancer, especially estrogens. They modulate gene expression, alter molecules and generate disparities in effectiveness and side effects of anticancer therapies. Recently immunotherapy aims to improve anticancer treatment strategies reducing off-target effects of chemotherapy and direct cancer cells killing. It is recognized as a fruitful strategy to treat and possible to cure cancer. Immunotherapeutic agents are used to activate or boost the activation of the immune system to fight cancer cells through physiological mechanisms often evaded in the offensive march of the disease. These therapeutic strategies have allowed new successes, but also have serious adverse effects including non-specific inflammation and autoimmunity. Sex and gender issues are of primary importance in this field, due to their recognized role in inflammation, immunity and cancer, and the clarification and understanding of these aspects is a necessary step to increase the responses and to diminish the adverse effects of immunotherapy. This review describes the available knowledge on the role of sex and gender in cancer immunotherapy, and will offer insights to stimulate the attention and practice of clinicians and researchers in a gender perspective of new cancer treatment strategies.
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Critical Network Structures and Medical Ecology Mechanisms Underlying Human Microbiome-Associated Diseases. iScience 2020; 23:101195. [PMID: 32559728 PMCID: PMC7303986 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental problem in studies on human microbiome-associated diseases (MADs) is to understand the relationships between microbiome structures and health status of hosts. For example, species diversity metrics have been routinely evaluated in virtually all studies on MADs, yet a recent meta-analysis revealed that, in only approximately one-third of the cases, diversity and diseases were related. In this study, we ask whether Hubbell's neutral theory (supplemented with the normalized stochasticity ratio [NSR]) or critical microbiome network structures may offer better alternatives. Whereas neutral theory and NSR focus on stochastic processes, we use core/periphery and high-salience skeleton networks to evaluate deterministic, asymmetrical niche effects, assuming that all species or their interactions were not “born” equal and focusing on non-neutral, critical network structures. We found that properties of critical network structures are more indicative of disease effects. Finally, seven findings (mechanisms, interpretations, and postulations) regarding medical ecology mechanisms underlying MADs were summarized. Seven findings (mechanisms/interpretations/postulations) of medical ecology proposed Critical network structures more indicative of disease effects than ecology metrics One-third seems ceiling of diversity-disease relations, half to two-thirds of network structures Super resilience (unexplained one-third to half gap) is likely attributed to host genome
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Smith ML, Farkas DK, Sumner JA, Jiang T, Lash TL, Galea S, Sørensen HT, Gradus JL. Associations between adjustment disorder and hospital-based infections in the Danish population. J Psychosom Res 2020; 132:109976. [PMID: 32142971 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.109976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is some evidence that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with increased risk of infections, and it is unknown whether adjustment disorder is as well. We assessed the association between adjustment disorder and subsequent infections, and assessed additive interaction with sex. METHODS The study population included a nationwide cohort of all Danish-born residents of Denmark diagnosed with adjustment disorder between 1995 and 2011, and an age- and sex-matched general population comparison cohort. We compared rates of infections requiring inpatient or outpatient hospitalization in the two cohorts. We fit Cox proportional hazards models to compute adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for the associations between adjustment disorder and 32 types of infections, and calculated interaction contrasts to assess interaction between adjustment disorder and sex. RESULTS Adjustment disorder was associated with increased rates of infections overall (n = 19,838 infections, aHR = 1.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.8. 1.9), and increased rates of each individual infection type (aHRs for 30 infections ranged from 1.5 to 2.3), adjusting for baseline psychiatric and somatic comorbidities and marital status. For many infection types (e.g., skin infections, pneumonia), interaction contrasts indicated rate differences were greater among men than women, while for two (urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted infections), rate differences were greater for women. CONCLUSIONS These findings are consistent with studies examining the relationship between psychological stress and infections, and between PTSD and infections. They may be explained by a combination of the triggering of unhealthy behaviors as well as immune responses to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan L Smith
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | | | - Jennifer A Sumner
- Department of Psychology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tammy Jiang
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Timothy L Lash
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sandro Galea
- School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Henrik Toft Sørensen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jaimie L Gradus
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Jordakieva G, Kundi M, Lemell P, Zieglmayer R, Zieglmayer P, Jensen-Jarolim E, Crevenna R. Cetirizine inhibits gender-specific blood cell dynamics upon allergen contact in allergic rhinitis. Clin Immunol 2020; 215:108422. [PMID: 32304734 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2020.108422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
IgE-mediated inflammatory responses upon allergen contact in allergic rhinitis (AR) are associated with rapid alterations of circulating blood cell numbers detectable in a complete blood count (CBC). Aim of this study was to evaluate whether intake of antihistamines may modulate allergen-induced CBC dynamics in male and female patients. A total of N = 112 specific allergen challenges were performed in otherwise healthy AR subjects. Seventy-two (n = 72) subjects received placebo and forty (n = 40) received cetirizine (H1-receptor antagonist) per os prior to allergen exposure in a randomized, double-blind trial at the Vienna Challenge Chamber (VCC); a subgroup of twenty-five (n = 25) subjects received cetirizine and placebo on different study days (parallel group). Blood samples and symptom scores were taken at baseline and immediately after 6 h of airway challenge simulating ambient allergen contact. Female sex was associated with a pronounced circulating monocyte increase (p < .01) and male sex with an eosinophil decrease (p < .05) in the placebo group, but not in cetirizine treated subjects. The significant increase in segmented neutrophils (p < .001) and decrease in circulating erythrocytes (p < .01) upon allergen challenge was less prominent after cetirizine intake in both sexes. A more prominent thrombocyte increase in female subjects (p < .05) was noted upon allergen exposure, regardless of prior cetirizine intake. Cetirizine inhibited the mobilization of neutrophils, lymphocytes and decline in erythrocyte numbers, but did not affect thrombocyte increase upon allergen challenge. It further diminished gender-specific blood cell dynamics. Overall, as reflected in a simple CBC, cetirizine critically diminished immediate and late innate immune responses subsequent to allergen exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Jordakieva
- Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
| | - M Kundi
- Center for Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - P Lemell
- Power Project GmbH, Dept. Vienna Challenge Chamber (VCC), Austria
| | - R Zieglmayer
- Power Project GmbH, Dept. Vienna Challenge Chamber (VCC), Austria
| | - P Zieglmayer
- Power Project GmbH, Dept. Vienna Challenge Chamber (VCC), Austria
| | - E Jensen-Jarolim
- Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center of Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; The Interuniversity Messerli Research Institute, Medical University Vienna, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - R Crevenna
- Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
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42
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Salminen TS, Vale PF. Drosophila as a Model System to Investigate the Effects of Mitochondrial Variation on Innate Immunity. Front Immunol 2020; 11:521. [PMID: 32269576 PMCID: PMC7109263 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding why the response to infection varies between individuals remains one of the major challenges in immunology and infection biology. A substantial proportion of this heterogeneity can be explained by individual genetic differences which result in variable immune responses, and there are many examples of polymorphisms in nuclear-encoded genes that alter immunocompetence. However, how immunity is affected by genetic polymorphism in an additional genome, inherited maternally inside mitochondria (mtDNA), has been relatively understudied. Mitochondria are increasingly recognized as important mediators of innate immune responses, not only because they are the main source of energy required for costly immune responses, but also because by-products of mitochondrial metabolism, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), may have direct microbicidal action. Yet, it is currently unclear how naturally occurring variation in mtDNA contributes to heterogeneity in infection outcomes. In this review article, we describe potential sources of variation in mitochondrial function that may arise due to mutations in vital nuclear and mitochondrial components of energy production or due to a disruption in mito-nuclear crosstalk. We then highlight how these changes in mitochondrial function can impact immune responses, focusing on their effects on ATP- and ROS-generating pathways, as well as immune signaling. Finally, we outline how being a powerful and genetically tractable model of infection, immunity and mitochondrial genetics makes the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster ideally suited to dissect mitochondrial effects on innate immune responses to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiina S. Salminen
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Pedro F. Vale
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Ma ZS. Testing the Anna Karenina Principle in Human Microbiome-Associated Diseases. iScience 2020; 23:101007. [PMID: 32305861 PMCID: PMC7163324 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The AKP (Anna Karenina principle), which refers to observations inspired by the opening line of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, “all happy families are all alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,” predicts that all “healthy” microbiomes are alike and each disease-associated microbiome is “sick” in its own way in human microbiome-associated diseases (MADs). The AKP hypothesis predicts the rise of heterogeneity/stochasticity in human microbiomes associated with dysbiosis due to MADs. We used the beta-diversity in Hill numbers and stochasticity analysis to detect AKP and anti-AKP effects. We tested the AKP with 27 human MAD studies and discovered that the AKP, anti-AKP, and non-AKP effects were exhibited in approximately 50%, 25%, and 25% of the MAD cases, respectively. Mechanistically, AKP effects are primarily influenced by highly dominant microbial species and less influenced by rare species. In contrast, all species appear to play equal roles in influencing anti-AKP effects. About a half of microbiome-associated diseases follow AKP (Anna Karenina principle) AKP effects are primarily influenced by highly dominant microbial species About one-fourth of microbiome-associated diseases follow the anti-AKP All species appear to play equal roles in influencing the anti-AKP effects
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanshan Sam Ma
- Computational Biology and Medical Ecology Lab, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.
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De Martinis M, Sirufo MM, Suppa M, Di Silvestre D, Ginaldi L. Sex and Gender Aspects for Patient Stratification in Allergy Prevention and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1535. [PMID: 32102344 PMCID: PMC7073150 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Allergies are rapidly worsening in recent decades, representing the most common immunological diseases. The mechanism of disorders such as asthma, rhinocongiuntivitis, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, food and drug allergies, and anaphylaxis still remain unclear and consequently treatments is mostly still symptomatic and aspecific while developments of new therapies are limited. A growing amount of data in the literature shows us how the prevalence of allergic diseases is different in both sexes and its changes over the course of life. Genes, hormones, environmental and immunological factors affect sex disparities associated with the development and control of allergic diseases, while they more rarely are considered and reported regarding their differences related to social, psychological, cultural, economic, and employment aspects. This review describes the available knowledge on the role of sex and gender in allergies in an attempt to improve the indispensable gender perspective whose potential is still underestimated while it represents a significant turning point in research and the clinic. It will offer insights to stimulate exploration of the many aspects still unknown in this relationship that could ameliorate the preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies in allergic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo De Martinis
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (M.M.S.); (D.D.S.); (L.G.)
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Center for the diagnosis and treatment of Osteoporosis, AUSL 04 Teramo, Italy
| | - Maria Maddalena Sirufo
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (M.M.S.); (D.D.S.); (L.G.)
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Center for the diagnosis and treatment of Osteoporosis, AUSL 04 Teramo, Italy
| | - Mariano Suppa
- Department of Dermatology, Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Daniela Di Silvestre
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (M.M.S.); (D.D.S.); (L.G.)
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Center for the diagnosis and treatment of Osteoporosis, AUSL 04 Teramo, Italy
| | - Lia Ginaldi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (M.M.S.); (D.D.S.); (L.G.)
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Center for the diagnosis and treatment of Osteoporosis, AUSL 04 Teramo, Italy
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Ma Z(S, Li W. How and Why Men and Women Differ in Their Microbiomes: Medical Ecology and Network Analyses of the Microgenderome. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2019; 6:1902054. [PMID: 31832327 PMCID: PMC6891928 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201902054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Microgenderome or sexual dimorphism in microbiome refers to the bidirectional interactions between microbiotas, sex hormones, and immune systems, and it is highly relevant to disease susceptibility. A critical step in exploring microgenderome is to dissect the sex differences in key community ecology properties, which has not been systematically analyzed. This study aims at filling the gap by reanalyzing the Human Microbiome Project datasets with two objectives: (i) dissecting the sex differences in community diversity and their intersubject scaling, species composition, core/periphery species, and high-salience skeletons (species interactions); (ii) offering mechanistic interpretations for (i). Conceptually, the Vellend-Hanson synthesis of community ecology that stipulates selection, drift, speciation, and dispersal as the four processes driving community dynamics is followed. Methodologically, seven approaches reflecting the state-of-the-art research in medical ecology of human microbiomes are harnessed to achieve the objectives. It is postulated that the revealed microgenderome characteristics (categorized as seven aspects of differences/similarities) exert far reaching influences on disease susceptibility, and are primarily due to the sex difference in selection effects (deterministic fitness differences in microbial species and/or species interactions with each other or with their hosts), which are, in turn, shaped/modulated by host physiology (immunity, hormones, gut-brain communications, etc.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanshan (Sam) Ma
- Computational Biology and Medical Ecology LabState Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and EvolutionKunming Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesKunming650223China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and GeneticsChinese Academy of SciencesKunming650223China
| | - Wendy Li
- Computational Biology and Medical Ecology LabState Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and EvolutionKunming Institute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesKunming650223China
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